So I have a detached workshop that has three existing floor drains. One of the drains is under my two post lift and has started to drain very slowly. A standard snake does nothing to move the clog so I'll be renting a power snake. This brings me to my next point, i don't know where the drains go. We're on well and septic but the shop is over 200' from my septic system. I assume the drains run to a grey water pit but I have no idea where that may be.
I'm fairly certain that garage drains are also verboten but since the shop was built in 1979 it likely predates that particular code.
Bottom line is how do I figure out where these pipes run to? Should I stop worrying about it and just leave well enough alone?
java230
UberDork
2/18/20 12:58 p.m.
You can get a snake that is locatable. Has an above ground sensor thingy.
Do you have a way to blow smoke into the drain?
java230 said:
You can get a snake that is locatable. Has an above ground sensor thingy.
This thread is of interest to me since I have the same issue. Is this different from a camera in the drain?
rustybugkiller said:
java230 said:
You can get a snake that is locatable. Has an above ground sensor thingy.
This thread is of interest to me since I have the same issue. Is this different from a camera in the drain?
Yes it generally has a camera, and is traceable from above ground. Its not perfect, but should get you +-6" or so.
Pour some liquified plutonium down the drain, and follow it with your gieger counter.
Streetwiseguy said:
Pour some liquified plutonium down the drain, and follow it with your gieger counter.
Maybe it's a metal drain and he could find it with a much safer metal detector?
Nah I like your idea better. Hopefully it's not a lead pipe!
noddaz said:
Do you have a way to blow smoke into the drain?
Drop some dry ice and water down it?
pheller
UltimaDork
2/18/20 4:36 p.m.
I've got a cable line locator for ethernet and coax and I thought about taping some wire to my borescope and sending it down the toilet to determine where it goes.
Most of the drain guy's camera equipment also has a sensor (emitter) thingy and they can both show you the film and paint lines and depth below surface all at the same visit but you will be paying for a camera episode.
And they probably have dedicated equipment just for locating lines only - same emitter thing and spray paint lines and depth below surface.
Not sure if the power snakes also have emitters but this may be true.
The thingy is a sonde. it sends a 512 Hz signal. A lot of pipe cameras have that transmitter build into the camera head so you can try to rent a camera and a locator. Otherwise you need the sonde itself on the end of a fish tape and still rent or borrow a locator. You can buy little ardy transmitters on eBay for about $40.00 but I would be surprised if you can rent one.
I find pipes with a couple of bent coat hangers and "devine" for them. I'm an engineer and this makes no sense at all to me, but it works.
